Simone Arena

{{short description|Italian dancer and choreographer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{infobox person | name = Simone Arena | image = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|08|07}} | birth_place = Catania, Italy | occupation = Dancer Choreographer | known_for = ''Dancing with the Stars Belgium'' ''Ballando con le Stelle'' | height = {{height|m=1.80|precision=0}} | partner = }}

'''Simone Arena''' (born 7 August 1992) is an Italian dancer and choreographer. Best known as former Italian Ballroom and Latin Champion, Arena joined the third series of the Belgian version of ''Dancing with the Stars''.

== Early life == Arena was born in Catania, Italy. He has been dancing since the age of seven.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Simone Arena |url=https://ru.burn-nation.com/burn-nation-teachers/Simone-Arena |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=BURN NATION |language=ru}}</ref>

== Amateur dancing career == By the age of sixteen Arena became the Vice Italian Latin Champion.<ref name=":0" />

He briefly partnered Maria Laureante for a short time in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WDSF couple Simone Arena - Maria Laureante |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Couple/Detail/Simone-Arena-and-Maria-Laureante-462492 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref> After that partnership dissolved her teamed up with Federica Zapulla.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WDSF couple Simone Arena - Federica Zappulla |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Couple/Detail/Simone-Arena-and-Federica-Zappulla-500469 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref> They enjoyed some success, finishing inside the top ten in the IDSF Open which took place in Maribor, Slovenia on 16 December 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranking of the IDSF Open Latin Youth in Maribor - Slovenia on 16 December 2007 |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Event/Competition/Open-Maribor-16986/Youth-Latin-38520/Ranking |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref>

Between 2009 and 2010, Arena partnered Malene Meihlen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WDSF couple Simone Arena - Malene Meihlen |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Couple/Detail/Simone-Arena-and-Malene-Meihlen-486836 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref> Their most successful outing came in an IDSF International Open which took place in Aarhus, Denmark on 28 November 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranking of the IDSF International Open Latin Adult in Aarhus - Denmark on 28 November 2009 |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Event/Competition/International-Open-Aarhus-17484/Adult-Latin-39664/Ranking |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref> He also teamed up with Slovakian dancer, Linda Manduchova for a time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Details of WDSF athlete Linda Manduchova |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Athlete/Detail/Linda-Manduchova-c5c5dd0e-3ced-4562-80c1-9e4b0053765f |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref>

He later partnered with fellow Italian dancer, Alessia Vernuccio. Their best result was a top three finish in the WDSF Open which took place in Ancona on 7 October 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranking of the WDSF Open Standard Junior II in Ancona - Italy on 07 October 2012 |url=http://www.worlddancesport.org/Event/Competition/Open-Ancona-18872/Junior-II-Standard-43586/Ranking |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=www.worlddancesport.org |language=en}}</ref>

== Professional dancing career == Arena joined in 2014 the Broadway production of ''Burn the Floor'' touring in London's West End and around the world including China, Australia and Japan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simone Arena |url=https://www.burn-nation.com/team/simone-arena |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=BURN NATION |language=en}}</ref> 2023 marked Arena's tenth consecutive year as part of the group.

In 2019, Arena was announced as part of the cast of ''Somnium: A Dancer's Dream'' with ''Strictly Come Dancing'' stars, Katya Jones and Neil Jones.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=London Theatre Direct Limited|date=2019-05-08 |title=Strictly star Charles Venn joins Neil and Katya Jones in this summer's Somnium: A Dancer's Dream at Sadler's Wells |url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/strictly-star-charles-venn-joins-neil-and-katya-jones-in-this-summers-somnium-a-dancers-dream-at-sadlers-wells |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=London Theatre Direct |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, Arena was announced to join the cast of Giovanni Pernice's 'This is Me' tour, however the tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackay |first=Aaron |date=2020-01-22 |title=Casting Announced for Giovanni Pernice's spectacular show! |url=https://www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk/casting-announced-for-giovanni-pernice-this-is-me/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=Kings Theatre Portsmouth |language=en}}</ref>

== ''Dancing with the Stars'' ==

===Belgium=== In December 2021, Arena joined the cast of the third series of the second incarnation (eighth overall) of the Belgian version of ''Dancing with the Stars''. He was partnered with artistic gymnast, Nina Derwael.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gouden Nina Derwael wint 'Dancing With The Stars' |url=https://www.proximus.be/pickx/nl/2206681/gouden-nina-derwael-wint-dancing-with-the-stars |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.proximus.be |language=nl}}</ref> On 12 February 2022, Derwael and Arena won the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2022-02-12 |title=Wie is winnaar "Dancing with the stars"? "Ik weet even niet wat zeggen, het was een stressvol moment" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/02/12/dancing-with-the-stars-finale/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;" !Series !Partner !Place |- bgcolor="gold" |8 |Nina Derwael |1st |}

==== Performances with Nina Derwael ==== {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Week No.''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Dance/Song''' ! colspan="4" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Judges' score''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Bonus points''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Total''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Result''' |- style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;" | style="width:10%; " |Vanlessen | style="width:10%; " |Leunis | style="width:10%; " |Anane |Kooijman |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |1 |Argentine Tango / "No Time to Die" | 8 | 8 | 8 |8 |– | {{green|'''32'''}} |No elimination |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |2 |Jive / "My Sharona" |8 |7 |8 |7 |– |30 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |3 |Freestyle / "The Greatest" |8 |8 |8 |9 |– |{{green|'''33'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |4 |Cha-cha-cha / "Move Your Feet Jive Marathon / "Good 4 U" |9 ''Awarded'' |9 ''12'' |9 ''extra'' |9 ''points'' |– – |{{green|'''36'''}} {{green|'''48'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |5 |Rumba / "Easy on Me" |9 |8 |9 |9 |– |35 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6 |Rumba / "Wicked Game" Disco Marathon / "Rasputin" |9 ''Awarded'' |9 ''8'' |9 ''extra'' |8 ''points'' |5 – |{{green|'''38'''}} {{green|'''46'''}} |No elimination Switch-Up Week with Nora Gharib |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |Viennese Waltz / "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" Modern / "Hurts" (with Jan Vanlessen) |10 – |10 10 |10 10 |10 9 |– – |{{green|'''40'''}} {{green|'''29'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |Paso Doble / "Let's Get It Started" Samba / "Magalenha" Freestyle / "Fly Me to the Moon" |9 10 ''No'' |9 10 ''scores'' |9 10 ''were'' |9 10 ''awarded'' |– – – |36 {{green|'''40'''}} – | bgcolor="gold" |'''Winners''' |}

===Italy=== Arena joined the Italian version of the show, ''Ballando con le Stelle'' for its seventeenth season as a professional dancer.<ref>{{Citation |publisher =Blasting News|title=Ballando con le Stelle: nel cast anche Pasquale La Rocca |url=https://it.blastingnews.com/tv-gossip/2022/08/video/ballando-con-le-stelle-nel-cast-anche-pasquale-la-rocca-005568470.html |language=it |access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> He partnered TV presenter, Marta Flavi. The couple were the first to be eliminated from the competition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-18 |title=Ballando con le stelle, la delusione di Marta Flavi. "Mariotto? Un cafone, mi meraviglio che si occupi di moda" |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/tv-radio/2022/10/18/news/ballando_con_le_stelle_marta_flavi_eliminata_attacca_mariotto-370602826/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}</ref> After the season ended, Arena spoke about his dissatisfaction with the overall production of the Italian version, stating he would not return for future editions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-26 |title=Ballando con le Stelle, il ballerino Simone Arena lascia il programma (con polemica): "Chi dice la verità è scomodo" |url=https://www.ilmattino.it/spettacoli/televisione/ballando_con_le_stelle_simone_arena_lascia_il_programma_cosa_e_successo_news-7133744.html |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.ilmattino.it |language=it}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;" !Series !Partner !Place |- | style="background:orange;" |17 |Marta Flavi |13th |}

==== Performances with Marta Flavi ==== {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Week No.''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Dance/Song''' ! colspan="5" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Judges' score''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Bonus points''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Total''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Result''' |- style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;" | style="width:6%; " |Zazzaroni | style="width:6%; " |Canino | style="width:6%; " |Smith | style="width:6%; " |Lucarelli | style="width:6%; " |Mariotto |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |1 |Tango / "Ancora ancora ancora" |6 |7 |6 |5 |5 | – |29 |No elimination |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |2 |Boogie woogie / "Ohi Marie" Playoff dance - Salsa / "Cercami" |5 ''Losers'' |5 ''of'' |2 ''the'' |4 ''public'' |0 ''vote'' | – – |16 {{red|''40.6%''}} |Eliminated |}

===Ireland=== On 28 November 2023, Arena was announced as one of the new professional dancers of the seventh series of the Irish version of ''Dancing with the Stars''.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2023-11-28 |title=Dancing with the Stars reveals 2024 pro dancers |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/1128/1418903-dancing-with-the-stars-reveals-2024-pro-dancers/ |journal=RTE|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-29 |title=Meet the new hunk who has just landed a spot on Dancing with the Stars |url=https://www.sundayworld.com/showbiz/tv/meet-the-new-hunk-who-has-just-landed-a-spot-on-dancing-with-the-stars/a340372276.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=SundayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> He was partnered with ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' winner, Blu Hydrangea. They reached the final, finishing as joint runners-up to Jason Smyth & Karen Byrne. They broke the record of receiving the most perfect scores in a series, with 5. The previous record of 4 was held by Denise McCormack and Nina Carberry. They also received the most 10s (along with Carberry), with 18.

Arena returned for the eighth series in 2025, where he was partnered with ''Kin'' actress, Yasmin Seky. They were the fourth couple to be eliminated from the show after losing their dance off to Aishah Akorede & Robert Rowiński.

On 23 November 2025, Arena announced that he was leaving the show.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;" !Series !Partner !Place |- bgcolor="silver" |7 |Blu Hydrangea |2nd |- |8 |Yasmin Seky |8th |}

==== Performances with Blu Hydrangea ==== {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Week No.''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Dance/Song''' ! colspan="3" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Judges' score''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Total''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Result''' |- style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;" | style="width:10%; " |Redmond | style="width:10%; " |Barry | style="width:10%; " |Gourounlian |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |1 |Cha-cha-cha / "You're Free" |8 |8 |8 |{{green|'''24'''}} | rowspan="2" |No elimination |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |2 |American Smooth / "True Blue" |6 |7 |7 |20 |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |3 |Tango / "Applause" |8 |8 |9 |{{green|'''25'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |4 |Salsa / "Dance the Night" |8 |8 |9 |25 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |5 |Contemporary Ballroom / "Tattoo" |8 |8 |9 |25 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6 |Paso Doble / "Sissy That Walk" |7 |8 |9 |24 |No elimination |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |Viennese Waltz / "Lose Control" |9 |10 |10 |{{green|'''29'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |8 |Samba / "I Go to Rio" |10 |10 |10 |{{green|'''30'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |9 |Quickstep / "Texas Hold 'Em" Team Dance / "Electric Energy" |10 10 |10 9 |10 9 |{{green|'''30'''}} {{red|''28''}} |Bottom two |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |10 |Charleston / "Witch Doctor" Scare-a-thon / "Dead Ringer for Love" |10 Awarded |10 5 |10 points |{{green|'''30'''}} {{green|'''35'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |11 |Contemporary Ballroom / "Tattoo" Showdance / "I Am What I Am" |10 10 |10 10 |10 10 |{{green|'''30'''}} {{green|'''30'''}} | rowspan="2" style="background:silver;" | Runners-up |}

==== Performances with Yasmin Seky ==== {| class="wikitable collapsible" ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Week No.''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Dance/Song''' ! colspan="4" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Judges' score''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Total''' ! rowspan="2" style="background:#ccc; text-align:Center;" |'''Result''' |- style="text-align:center; background:#ccc;" | style="width:10%; " |Redmond | style="width:10%; " |Byrne | style="width:10%; " |Barry | style="width:10%; " |Gourounlian |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |1 |Samba / "Oh Na Na" |6 |6 |6 |7 |25 | rowspan="2" |No elimination |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |2 |Foxtrot / "Birds of a Feather" |6 |7 |6 |7 |26 |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |3 |Charleston / "Been Like This" |9 |9 |9 |9 |{{green|'''36'''}} |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |4 |Contemporary Ballroom / "How Far I'll Go" |8 |9 | - |9 |26 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |5 |Rumba / "Halo" |7 |7 |7 |8 |29 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |6 |Salsa / "Qélé, Qélé" |7 |8 |8 |9 |32 |Safe |- style="text-align:center; background:#faf6f6;" |7 |Jive / "Tainted Love" |7 |7 |7 |8 |29 |Eliminated |}

== Personal life == Arena is in a relationship with ''Strictly Come Dancing'' professional dancer, Michelle Tsiakkas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Amy |date=2023-09-23 |title=BBC Strictly pro Michelle Tsiakkas' life off screen with boyfriend Simone Arena |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/bbc-strictly-pro-michelle-tsiakkas-30984967 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=OK! Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{WDSF|Simone-Arena-796850d8-d6d5-4ea4-9000-9e14012b1dea}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arena, Simone}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Italian dancers Category:Italian ballroom dancers Category:Italian male dancers Category:People from Catania